Seed cleaning apparatus



Sept. 2, 1941. c Q E SUER ETAL 2,254,430

- SEED CLEANING APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventou ,'Zar/maadjeizzez" iz'dizeydimrzi Sept. 2, 1941.

c. c. LE SUER ETAL 2,254,430 SEED CLEANING APPARATUS Filed April 29,1939I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors Sept. 2, 1941. c. c. LE SUER ETAL SEEDCLEANING APPARATUS Filed April 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 In ventors,Zareizcaflefaez" ,SZdrzey airmzs,

and Z? Attorneys Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STAT Es AT g r OFFICESEED CLEANING APPARATUS Clarence C.

LeSuer and Sidney Hamilton, Mont.

0. Evans,

Application April 29, 1939, Serial N 270,868

' 3Claims. (01. 209-467) purpose in view of providing an improved runwayand gate assembly for use on the usual deck of an air blast separatorand for separating such foreign matter as culls, rock and adobe fromseed without wasting the stock and without having to resort tore-ru-nning the stock through the separator.

Another object is to provide for building up the stock on the decksothat under the action of air under pressure forced upwardly therethroughthe heavier foreign matter such as rock and adobe will gravitate to thebottom of the stock and the lighter culls will float tothe top and toprovide means for separating such matter from the stock with a minimumloss of stock while at the same time providing for discharge of the goodor clean stock from the runway-.

Other objects, more or less subordinate in nature, are also comprehendedby our invention, all of which together with the precise details ofconstruction and combination of parts involved in the invention will bereadily apparent when the following description and claims are read withreference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of thisspecification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of the deck of a seed cleaner equippedwith our improved runway and gate assembly.

Figure 2 is a View in end elevation looking at the stock delivery end ofthe runway drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating on anenlarged scale thecull discharge battery of gates.

Figure 4 is a detail view in horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3 looking downwardly as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the adobe trap bafiie.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the rock trap baffle.

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of one of the discharge gates of thecull discharge assembly.

Figure 8 is a similar view of one of the stock delivery gates, and

Figure 9 is another similar view of the over flow gate.

" I and a discharge chute I3, similar to chute II,

is provided in the deck I leading, from said gate Referring now to thedrawings by numerals, the improved runway and gate assembly of ourinvention is designed for application to any of the types of seedcleaners of commerce operating by air under pressure passing upwardlythrough a deck or top.

Such cleaners, or separators, being well known and understood in theart, it has not been'deemed essential to a proper understanding ofourinvention to illustrate the details of a cleaner. I

According to our invention, the deck I of th cleaner, or separator,-represented at 2, is equipped with a runway I in the form of an open-topbin, or hopper, of narrow elongated form extending obliquely, lengthwisefrom one corner of said "deck to the diagonally opposite corner thereofand having 'a foraminous bottom 3. The runway I comprises parallel sidewalls 4, an obtuse angled seed delivery end 5 and a laterally ex-;tending opposite feed end 6 of hopper-like construction into which thestock is introduced. Preferably the runway I. inclines slightlylengthwise from the feed end 6. to the seed delivery end the runway I isa rock deflecting bailie 1- forming together with one-wall of the runwayI a rock trap 8- extending laterally of the runway I to one side thereofand closed by a gate 9 vertically slidable in suitable guideways Iiiprovided in said side wall 4. A rock discharge chute 'II is formed inthe'deck I to extend from said gate 9' to one edge of said deck I.

. A second gate, I2 similar to gate 9 is provided in the same side wall4 that said gate 9 is located in for the discharge of adobe from therunway I2 to the same. edge of said deck as the chute II. A baffle plateI2 is attached, as at I3, to

.said side wall 4 to extend inwardly therefrom and then paralleltherewith along the bottom 3 so as to form with said side wall an adobetrap opening toward the feed end 6. and into a. suitable adobedischargegateway (not shown) provided in-said wall 4 and opened and closed bysaid gate I2.

The sidewall 4 opposite to, that having the gates 9 and I2 therein hasformed therein contiguous the end 5 of the runway I a battery,preferably three, of cull-delivery, or discharge.

The deck 1 of, the type adapted to be vibrated.

the gateway I3in the lowermost'position of the gate. Thus, as will beseen, by elevating, or adjusting vertically, said gates I4 the size ofthe gateways I3 may be decreased vertically and the level of dischargeof the culls therefrom.

varied as desired. Another cull delivery gateway I3, similar to gatewaysI3, and controlled by a gate I'I, similar to gates I4, is provided ;in"x the end 5 of runway I adjacent the battery .of gateways I3, saidgateways I6 and gate I! being thus disposed oblique to the gateways I3andgates I4 for a purpose presently apparent. .The gates I4 and I! aredesigned to be adjusted to selected set positions. For this purpose,said gates I4 and I1 are arranged" to be suspended from a beam-likesuperstructure, I8 arising from: theappropriate side wall 4 andthe end5, each' gate I4, I'Iv being suitably secured at. itsupper end, as atI9, to a gate adjusting rod extending upwardly and centrally therefromthrough said frame I8 and having threaded on its upper end a wing nut2I. A coiledspring 22 sleeved on each rod 20 intermediate the'frame I8and a short tube I8 sleeved onto the lower end of the rodtensions therelated gates I4, I1 against up-' ward adjustment. I V

I In the seed delivery end 5 and adjoining'the side wall 4 having'thegates 9 and I2 therein is another battery of rectangular ateways24, 25,

26 and 21 spaced alongsaid end. close together and level at theirbottoms with the bottom 3. The gateways v24, 25, 2B and 2'I are adaptedto be controlled by sliding gates 28, 29, 30. and 3| mounted forslidingadjustment in the'same manner as gates I 4, I I by rods 32 extendingupwardly into a fixed frame 33 with wing nuts 34 on the upper endsthereof and springs 35. thereonfbetween said frame and saidgates bearingon.tubes 36 similar to tubes I8. 1 1

The gate 3| of the battery described in the immediately precedingparagraph. which; as

shown in Figure 1, is atone side of the series is designed to function,when shut, as anoverflow gate toestablish the level of the stock in therunway I and for that purpose is provided with a narrow transverselyextending slot 3 I therein adjacent its lower end which, when said gateis closed, is located midwayof the gateway 21. 1

The side walls 4 and the ends 5 and 6 maybe formedof anysuitablestrip-like material for instance wood, bolted to the deck I' asindicated at 38, and further secured to said deckQby angle brackets 39located at suitable points. "Also, angle brackets may be used at comers.of the runway I' to secure the .same together and as indicated at M. V1" The rock baflie 'I is preferably increased in height, as at 42, toform one side of the rock trap8. I

Referring now to the .operation, the'stockis introduced intothe feed end5 while air. is blasted in the usual manner upwardly through the bottom3, and with gates 9, I2, 24. to 21 closed and the gates I4, "adjusted tothe desired elevation. :Under the agitation of the stock in said end 6resulting from the blast passing upwardly gravitates to the bottom toaccumulate in said end 6 and trap 8 so that it will issue through thegate 9 when opened into the chute II for collection as desired. Thestock freed of rock in this manner overflows the baflie I andsubsequently fills the remainder of the runway I to a level establishedby the overflow slot 31 in the gate 3|. During this filling operation,as the stock feeds over the baflie -'I and down the runway I the nextlighter foreign matter, to wit, the adobe gravitates to the adobe trapside of the runway I' and into the adobe trap formed by the baffle I2and adjacent side wall 4 and is collected in said trap to issue throughthe gate I2 when opened into the chute I3 for disposal also-as desired.At this point, it should be explained that the runway I' also slantsdownwardly laterally,-or in the direction of its width,

"slightly from the side having the rock and adobe traps therein. 1

As'will be manifest, during 'ris'e of the stock to the level establishedby the slot 31 of door 3|, the culls have been floated to the top of thestock to feedout of the openings I5 in the gates I4,

manner.

means for building up the stock capacity of the I! and the good cleanedseed will have gravitated to the'bottom 3. At this point the gateways24, 25, 26 may be opened to permit the cleaned seed to issuetherefrom-for collection in any suitable It will now be seen that ourinvention provides for equipping the deck of air'blast separators withseparator as well as for expeditiously and thoroughly cleaning suchstock. The capacity increase of course depends on the kind of seed beingtreated. 'l-lowever, in actual practice it has been found that thecapacity of the separator maybe increased by at least fifty per cent.

The foregoing'will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clearunderstanding of our invention without further explanation. I

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible ofmodificationwithout departing from the inventive concept and right isherein reserved therethrough, the heaviest matter, to Wit, rock "to suchmodifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims. f

7 What is claimed is:

1. In a seed cleaner for separating rock and culls from seed stock underthe'action of gravity and air blasted through the stock, a deck havingparallel sides andadapted for endwise vibration, an elongated runwayonsaid deck for receiving said stock, said runway being of bin-like formwith parallel sides extending obliquely of the sides of the deck andhaving a foraminousbottom incorporated in said deck-for the passage ofair under pressure upwardly through the stock in said runway,saidbotto'm slanting toward one end of the runway and toward one sidethereof, a laterally offset extension at the higher end of said runwayintroducing the stock therein, a baflle extending across the bottom ofthe runway in front of said extension and forming together with one sideof the runway a rock trap, a door on said one side of the runway foropening and closing said trap, a battery of cull discharge gates in theopposite side of the runway adjacent the lower end thereof havingdischarge apertures therein above said bottom for the gravita tionaldischarge of culls therethrough from the top of the stock, and a batteryof seed delivery gates in the lower end of said runway openingvertically from said bottomfor the gravitational discharging of the seedtherethrough from the bottom of the stock. l

2. In a seed cleaner for separating rock and culls from seed stock underthe action of gravity and air blasted through the stock, a deck havingparallel sides and adapted for endwise vibration, an elongated runway onsaid deck for receiving said stock, said runway being of bin-like formwith parallel sides extending obliquely of said sides of the deck andhaving a foraminous bottom incorporated in said deck for the passage ofair under pressure upwardly through the stock in said runway, saidbottom slanting toward one end of the runway and toward one sidethereof, a laterally ofiset extension at the higher end of said runwayintroducing the stock therein, a baffle extending across the bottom ofthe runway in front of said extension and forming together with one sideof the runway a rock trap, a door in said one side of the runway foropening and closing said trap, a battery of cull discharge gates in theother side of the runway adjacent the lower end thereof having dischargeapertures therein above said bottom for the gravitational discharge ofculls therethrough from the top of the stock, a battery of seed deliverygates in the lower end of said runway opening vertically from saidbottom for the gravitational discharging of the seed therethrough fromthe bottom of the stock, and a trap at said one side of said runwayintermediate the ends thereof for adobe opening toward the higher end ofsaid runway.

3. In a seed cleaner for separating rock and culls from seed stock underthe action of gravity and air blasted through the stock, a deck havingparallel sides and adapted for endwise vibration, an elongated runway onsaid deck for receiving said stock, said runway being of bin-like formwith parallel sides extending obliquely of said sides of the deck andhaving a foraminous bottom incorporated in said deck for the passage ofair under pressure upwardly through-the stock in said runway, saidbottom slanting toward one end of the runway and toward one sidethereof, a laterallyoffset extension at the higher end of said runwayintroducing the stock therein, a baffle extending across the bottom ofthe runway in front of said extension and forming together with side ofthe runway a rock trap, a door in said one side of the runway foropening and closing said trap, a battery of cull discharge gates in theother side of the runway adjacent the lower end thereof having dischargeapertures therein above said bottom for the gravitational discharge ofculls therethrough from the top of the stock, a battery of seed deliverygates in the lower end of said runway opening vertically from saidbottom for the gravitational discharge of the seed therethrough from thebottom of the stock, and a slotted overflow gate in the lower end of therunway for establishing the level of the stock therein.

CLARENCE C. LE SUER.

SIDNEY 0. EVANS.

